Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Ankiel throws wildly in BP
Rick Ankiel's comeback hit another rough patch on Monday as the St. Louis left-hander threw just three strikes in 26 batting practice pitches.

Ninilchik holds Project GRAD College Days
Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula hosted its second annual College Day at Ninilchik School last week. "This has a very positive impact on our students. It exposes the students to college information and the expectation that all kids can go to college and that Project GRAD will help get them there. The day was a tremendous success and we look forward to doing it again next year," said Ninilchik principal Terry Martin. The entire day was geared toward getting and keeping students on the college bound pathway, "Project GRAD College Day works with the entire school to strengthen the culture of college within the school population," said Heather Pancratz, Project GRAD executive director based in Homer.

Rotary begins 2nd Century locally and around the world
What started with Paul Harris and a small group of businessmen one hundred years ago has now officially begun its second century. It's known around the world today as Rotary International, but known better by local Rotarians as fun. Some 25 years ago Fred Chambers, a retired American Airline pilot and long time Rotarian, decided to retire in Soldotna. There were no Rotary clubs on the Kenai Peninsula, so Chambers had to fly to Anchorage to attend meetings. The downtown Anchorage Rotary Club challenged Chambers to start a club in Kenai/Soldotna and with the help of 20 some local businessmen the first Rotary club on the Peninsula was chartered in the spring of 1979 with Chambers as the Club's first president. The philanthropic concept of service above self and weekly luncheon meetings to keep abreast of community happenings became so popular that within a few years the original Kenai/Soldotna Club that met in Soldotna was able to split and sponsor another Rotary Club in Kenai. As both clubs continued to grow, the Soldotna Rotary Club sponsored a Homer club and a few years later a Seward Rotary club. Today there are four Rotary clubs on the Kenai Peninsula with over 200 members.

Outdoors with John Perkovich
Yes I finally recovered from the flu and bronchitis enough to get out of the house and enjoy the Alaska outdoors. After being stuck in the house for about ten days I was determined not to let anything stop me from getting out. On Friday, February 11, I was loading up my camping gear to take my children Alea and Travis plus family friend Sierra Scott camping out on the ice of Hidden Lake. As I walked out of my garage to the shop located behind my garage where my camping gear is stored I noticed water sitting on top of the ground! Water on top of the ground in the wintertime generally means only one thing, a broken or leaking water pipe. A pipe that has to be dug up and repaired... What did I choose to do you ask? I went camping anyway!

Curtain falls on Brigadoon, but the magic remains
Brigadoon may be the town that time forgot, but the romance and magical music brought to our community by the Kenai Performers will be long remembered. Once again residents of the Kenai Peninsula have been treated to a tremendous effort by the Kenai Performers. The cast of some 80 performers, not including numerous support and back stage crew, invested their time and talents to bring to life the meaningful fantasy created by Alan Lerner and put to music by Broadway legend Frederick Lowe.

The re-opening of Kids Korner
Keeping your kids in clothes is a daunting task of parenting regardless of how much money or relatives you have. So many times before a child grows into its baby shower gifts Mom or Dad has forgotten where they stored them until they have become too small. That task and the expense of clothing children is what prompted Season Silba to start a previously owned children's clothing store about six years ago. "We closed down for awhile, but due to popular demand we are back in the same location and I am very excited to be open again," said Silba. The Kids Korner is located in Soldotna next door to the Music Box and is a special place for kid's sizes zero up size 7. "Our goal is to clean and wash each of our items. We double check them for spots and tears and make sure our toys all have working batteries. We try our best to be sure our items are clean and like new and most importantly priced mostly under $6.00 dollars," explained Season.

No. 20: Osmar ready to face familiar trail
Of all the Kenai Peninsula mushers entered in this year's Iditarod, Tim Osmar of Ninilchik is by far the most familiar with the trek from Anchorage to Nome. This will be Osmar's 20th run, and he still holds that same zest for the competition as he did in his first race.

Gebhardt brings experience to race
Mushers who have competed with Kasilof-based Paul Gebhardt have a saying: "It's not a matter of if he'll win the Iditarod, it's more a matter of when."

Quest: Mackey sets sights on Iditarod
Like a Steppenwolf song, Kasilof musher Lance Mackey lives life "like a true nature's child who was born to be wild," and it is his full-throttle attitude toward mushing that propels him to the front of the pack.

Moose Pass musher gives Iditarod just one more try
Judy Merritt is a lot like other grandmothers. She enjoys gardening, antiques and spending time with her children and grandchildren. There is one exception though. Merritt, 44, also likes the white-knuckle excitement of hitching up a dozen or more huskies to a sled for a fast-paced foray over snow and ice.

Tyrell gets into competitive racing mind-set
Although many eyes will be on Mitch Seavey as he defends his title as the current Iditarod champion, his son, Tyrell Seavey, is hoping to better stake his own claim to fame in the Last Great Race this year. And he believes he may have the dogs to do it.

Palmer wrong to criticize AC members for resignining
Ah so, Grasshopper, you see only the world you wish to see. For a story teller that can be an advantage, but not seeking the truth can bring shame and distrust when your story is told to those that know of the truth.

Many contributed to gardening conference's success
The Central Peninsula Master Gardeners would like to thank all the folks who helped make the 2005 Statewide Master Gardener Conference such a great time. First we would like to thank the Kenai Peninsula College for having us in their facility.

Businesses help support creative writing night
A big thank you to Peterkin, Country Foods, Safeway, Three Bears, Fred Meyer and Food Service of America for the donations to our Creative Writers Night fund-raiser dinner! We appreciate your donations and supporting the seniors in their endeavors of the Kenai Senior Citizens Center kitchen renovation and assisted living projects. Thank you.

Kasilof
Greetings from Kasilof.
Welcome to March.
March is Reading in Schools month and Wednesday is International Woman's Day. Love the woman in you and in your life, whether she's your wife, your granny, your sister, your mother or your lover. Show her you think she's the "bomb."

Sterling
Hi, neighbors.
It's that time of year again. The Soroptimist International of the Kenai Peninsula will hold its 10th annual Young Women's Conference Saturday at Solid Rock Bible Camp.

Kenai
Do you realize that this month marks the halfway point between winter and summer solstice?

Ninilchik
Hi, neighbors.
Attention Ninilchik young women: Soroptimist International is the world's largest service organization for business, executive and professional women.

Soldotna
Hi.
Congratulations to Amber J. Hall, an 11th-grade home school student,who won first place and $1,200 in the state National Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program. Amber's essay was titled, "Celebrating Our Veterans' Service."

Cooper Landing
Cheerio.
Anna "Perky" Head, taught school here in the 1960s and cheerio was her word for hello and goodbye.

Nikiski
Good morning,
"May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you." Irish blessing

Sergeant status: Troopers promoted
In a word, Capt. Tom Bowman, commander of the Alaska State Troopers "E" Detachment in Soldotna, described the work of two troopers being promoted to the rank of sergeant  "outstanding."

Theft threat forces canceled credit cards
ANCHORAGE (AP)  The Alaska Department of Administration has been forced to close 86 state credit card accounts since early January because someone is trying to get unauthorized access to the accounts.

Snowy slumber
A couple of moose choose the frozen Kenai River as a place to take a mid-morning snooze recently near the Sterling Highway bridge in Soldotna.

Soccer plan kicked about
A plan to turn a large tract of vacant Kenai land into a complex of soccer fields appears to have legs.
Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Bob Frates said last month that the city is in line to receive a $251,548 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant from the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The grant is actually from the federal government, but passed through the state. On Monday, Frates said the preliminary grant process has gone well.

Rabbit numbers multiply
Evidently, rabbit stew is not a popular dish in Soldotna.
This is clear due to several pronounced feral rabbit populations all over the city that, for the most part, flourish with little threat.

Carroll Russell Raney
Longtime Anchorage resident Carroll Russell Raney died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, with his family by his side at Providence Alaska Medical Center, due to complications from surgery after slipping on the ice and fracturing his hip. He was 69.

United Nations has lost its way
Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece last week that the United Nations was "of vital importance to humanity." Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.

Connections
Congratulations to the Connections third- and fourth-grade Battle of the Books first-place winners. Team members are Hope Steffensen, Ellery Steffensen, Mika Morton and Vienna Schmitter-Schrier.

Kaleidoscope
Thanks to the community members who read with students, and to the high school students who are reading today for Love of Reading Week.

Nikiski Middle/Senior High
The Nikiski Dance Troupe is in concert Thursday and Friday at Nikiski High School and March 11 and 12 at Kenai Central High School. The program begins each night at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be sold during intermission at each Friday performance.

Tustumena Elementary
Students completed their jumps in the "Jump Rope for Heart" fund-raiser last week.

Wings Christian Academy
The school will have its fifth annual Junk Yard Wars this Friday. This year, each of the four teams will be given extra time to complete their assigned project. The team captains are Kaylee Burger, Elizabeth Wood, Julianne Pettey and Leah Howell.

Kenai Central High
Next week is Homegoing Week. Students will celebrate with Spirit Days, an assembly Friday, the homegoing basketball games Saturday and a dance Saturday evening.

Nikiski North Star Elementary
The Nikiski North Star Band will perform at the Nikiski Senior Citizens Center during lunch March 30. The band also will perform for parents and guests at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7 in the Nikiski North Star gym.

Cook Inlet Academy
The third quarter will end March 18 . High school seniors are planning graduation May 15 by ordering caps and gowns, writing biographies for the program and deciding on a class verse and song.

Reads
First- and second-graders have completed reports on U.S. presidents. The students will read their reports to fellow classmates this week.

Fifth-graders expand class walls
When Redoubt Elementary fifth-grader Kristen Nagel opened her newspaper and read about Landon Rogers, 2, a little boy suffering from severe failure to thrive who has spent most of his life in a hospital and might never live to be 3, she wanted to find a way to help him.

Sears Elementary
This is Love of Reading week. Thanks to visitors from the community who have read with students this week.

Skyview High
The show will hang in the Seward SeaLIfe Center until Friday.

Kalifornsky Beach
Mr. Daniels' class is taking a trip to Mars to control a Martian rover to analyze data. Then students will take a field trip to Denali National Park. They learn about how animals adapt to their surroundings. The field trips will be conducted online at efieldtrips.com.

More than 400 teams fail NCAA test
INDIANAPOLIS  More than 400 sports teams at the nation's Division I schools could lose scholarships next year under the NCAA's new academic standards, according to a report released Monday.

Xavier's nun is second to none
CINCINNATI  When he became Xavier's coach, Sean Miller quickly discovered who had the most clout in the school's high-profile basketball program  a 72-year-old nun.

Duncan's late shot nips Cavs
CLEVELAND  Tim Duncan made a 19-foot jumper just before the final horn sounded, giving the San Antonio Spurs a 94-92 victory Monday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who dropped their third straight.

Plan might reunite student with athlete
Myles Brand already held some credentials as a reformer when he was named to head the NCAA a little over two years ago. This was a guy, after all, who had the guts as president of Indiana University to give the boot to Bob Knight.

Pitt hurts BC's Big East hopes
BOSTON  Chris Taft had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 24 Pittsburgh to a 72-50 victory over No. 5 Boston College on Monday night that snapped the Panthers' three-game losing streak.

Sonics rally past Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS  Rashard Lewis had 30 points on 14-of-19 shooting and the Seattle SuperSonics rallied in the fourth quarter for a 101-93 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Chicago releases Terrell
Wide receiver David Terrell, the eighth pick in the 2001 draft, was released by the Chicago Bears as NFL teams prepared for the start of free agency Wednesday by paring veterans to get under the salary cap.

Bucs cut Johnson, Pats release Brown
Hours before free agency began, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released quarterback Brad Johnson and wide receiver Joe Jurevicius on Tuesday, cutting ties with two stars of their run to a Super Bowl title.

CIA, Ninilchik cagers split
The Cook Inlet Academy basketball teams played Peninsula Conference foe Ninilchik Tuesday at Ninilchik, with the Wolverines winning 50-44 in the girls game and the Eagles taking a 65-34 decision in the boys game.

Peninsula educators react to changes
Three longtime Kenai Peninsula educators with strong ties to activities for the most part supported the Monday decision of the Alaska School Activities Association board of directors to tighten activities eligibility rules.